R-Value: What Is It and Why Is It Important?

R-values vary based on the type of insulation material you choose and how much of it you use. It’s also important to ensure that your insulation is installed properly, so as not to bring down the R-value of the material. For example, if you compress fiberglass in order to fit more into an area, then you decrease it’s R-value – so you need to weigh your options when choosing insulation. Each type of insulation has its own benefits so it really comes down to your home’s specific needs. If you were to need to insulate an area that doesn’t allow a lot of depth, for example, it might make more sense to use closed-cell spray foam insulation which has a higher R-value (6.5 per inch) with less depth, rather than using fiberglass (2.2 to 3.8 per inch) or cellulose (3.1 to 3.8 per inch). However, closed-spray foam insulation is more expensive than fiberglass and cellulose so using a different type of insulation material for other areas in your home may make more sense for you. Regardless of the choice you make, you need to make sure that your insulation reaches the recommended R-value. If you’re on a budget and want the most cost-effective solution, you can choose to go with a material that has a lower R-value and use more of it to reach the area’s desired R-value.

It’s important to note, however, that the R-value of insulation does not always indicate the same types of protection offered with each material. R-value merely determines the quality of the temperature control in your home. Other reasons for insulation, such as noise reduction, do not necessarily depend on R-value alone but rather on the material used. Mineral wool (made up of rock) is the best type of insulation to use for noise reduction but has an R-value of 2.2 to 4.2 per inch, compared to spray foam insulation’s higher range of insulation (3.7 to 6.5 per inch).